LETTER | Bersatu-Umno cooperation stronger than thought

LETTER | I wish to reply to Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming's contention that Perikatan Nasional will not last until GE15. I am a Bersatu grassroots member from Ipoh and used to be in Umno.

Ong's main argument is that Umno is unhappy playing second fiddle to Bersatu despite the former having more seats in Parliament, while some of its senior leaders are excluded from the cabinet line-up.

My retort is this - Umno reaching out to Bersatu is the best way to ensure that the party is able to stay in government. What is the alternative for Umno leaders to stay in power and be appointed to positions in GLCs?

The other side of the political divide has the DAP in it. There is no way Umno will work with the DAP, just as neither will DAP work with Umno. Put another way, Bersatu is Umno's lifeline for now.

Given the choice, Umno would want to go the full stretch until the next general election cooperating with Bersatu under Perikatan Nasional.

The next question is, is there even be a possibility of Bersatu going back to Pakatan Harapan (given its acrimonious departure) should Umno retract its support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin?

As long as Muhyiddin is in charge, possibly not. This is why it is in Umno's best interests to help Muhyiddin contain Dr Mahathir Mohamad who is also the Bersatu chairperson. 

Umno would also want to thwart any crossover by Bersatu MPs aligned to Muhyiddin to Mahathir's camp.

This means to say there is more reason for Umno to prop up Muhyiddin than for the party to not just lose power but be subjected to a witch-hunt by a DAP-led government again.

What will happens after GE15 nobody knows. 

But for now, while the Bersatu-Umno cooperation lies on the bedrock of mutual self-interests, it is nevertheless on a solid foundation.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.